CHRISTIAN MACDONALD
DIRECTOR // EDITOR
MØLLER // “Volkswagen & Audi Summit 2024”
Official presentation countdown and intro videos for the 2024 Baltic Volkswagen and Audi Summit, an annual gathering held for Møller Baltic Import's esteemed dealers and service partners across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The videos were designed to be screened at the summit on a gigantic bespoke aspect ratio keynote display. The summit was held in Riga, Latvia, celebrating 30 years of Volkswagen and Audi in the Baltics.
Client: Møller Baltic Import
Edit Director: Christian MacDonald
Executive Producer: Zane MacDonald
Creative Directors: Christian MacDonald & Stanislav Bulatsky
Art Director: Vladimirs Karsecjans
Illustrator: Julia Figlovskaya
Animator: Yanna Chintsova
Animation Studio: Panic (panicstudio.tv)
Music Composers: Yarin Primak & Roman P
Editor / Music Editor / Motion Designer: Christian MacDonald
Celebrating 30 Years in the Baltics.
Excellent Customer Experience: The Key to Success.
@astro_nomads // TikTok Account
Role: TikTok Content Creator
As a side-project during the lockdown and rise of TikTok, I explored
the creative possibilities of the platform. I was curious to learn about the
current trends and new ways of connecting with an audience. As a result
of my experiments, I co-created an astrology themed account that got
over 60K likes with some videos reaching over 366K views.
Due to pandemic production limitations, I chose to use royalty free videos
and edit them (direct-in-the-edit) to appeal to the chosen target
audience. My creative partner researched the themes and wrote copy,
while I worked with the audiovisual content, sourced the videos and
edited the clips to trending audio.
The account is now dormant, but this experiment deepened my understanding of the platform and I'd be excited to create more TikTok content in the future.
A girl, a mysterious woman and their new canine friend film a forest adventure home movie filled with fun games, childish curiosities and some very serious magick.
*Best Baltic Music Video nominee, Riga International Film Festival (2018)
*Official Selection, Riga International Film Festival (2018)
EVIJA VEBERE // "Milniekiem un visadiem citiem"
The concept of this official music video for artist Evija Vebere was based on 90's nostalgia, found-footage films and the aesthetic of VHS home tapes. I wrote, directed, co-produced and co-edited the project. Although it was a small indie shoot, I managed to bring together an experienced casting agent, cinematographer, stunt team, stylist, makeup artist and co-editor mostly on enthusiasm for the project. This video was a great collaborative team effort.
I enjoyed the challenge of shooting on an actual VHS camera for the authentic aesthetic and working with practical SFX (levitation in harnesses). My cast included artist Evija Vebere, child actress Aurelija Pronina, Nikolajs Sestaks and a trained border control dog named Jana.
Director: Christian MacDonald (the glacial kid)
Producer: Zane MacDonald & Christian MacDonald
Director of Photography: Martins Jurevics
Editors: Uvis Leskavnieks & Christian MacDonald
Stunt Coordinators: Indulis Sverns & Kriss Bitenieks
Stylist / Make-up Artist: Inese Kalva
Casting Director: Iveta Dortane
Dog Trainers: Inga & Lucija Sabo
Production Assistant: Janis Spurdziņs
VHS cameras & tape digitization: BBrental
Special thanks to: Roberts Vinovskis, Juris Zukovskis & Janis Dunkurs
Featuring: Evija Vebere, Aurelija Pronina, Nikolajs Sestaks & Jana the Dog
WINTERSLEEP // "In The Land Of "
Promotional album teaser video for Canadian indie rock band Wintersleep and their then upcoming album "In The Land Of".
After hitting #1 on Canada's alternative and rock charts with their previous album "The Great Detachment", the band spent some time in the studio working on their next release. I was commissioned by the band and its label, Dine Alone Records, to create (direct-in-the-edit) a promotional teaser video for social media/online release from hours of footage shot during the creation of the album.
Since I am also a musician, I always welcome the opportunity to work on music projects.
Clients: Wintersleep / Dine Alone Records
Edit Director: Christian MacDonald (the glacial kid)
Artist Management: Adrienne Butcher (Estuary Artists)
Colorist: Oleg Aleksejev
Editor / Motion Designer: Christian MacDonald
A woman is beckoned to break from the shackles of an abusive marriage through a transcendent connection with the natural world.
ANNA // Short Film
I wrote, directed, co-produced, co-edited and co-sound-designed this short film during my time in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Since this was a small budget indie shoot, I was fully involved with every aspect of the production. I organised casting sessions with theatre and film actors, did location scouting, planned the budget and schedule and worked closely with the heads of departments to achieve my creative vision. It was a challenging production in terms of subject matter, logistics and technical demands.
As director, I set a very high bar for what had to be achieved and I had to manage and support my cast and crew in the process. I'm proud of their achievements and the fact that the film received a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award nomination.
*Nominee, BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards (2015)
Writer / Director: Christian MacDonald
Starring: Charlotte Gascoyne & Shaun Paul McGrath
Producers: Anka Tyminska & Christian MacDonald
Director of Photography: Gleb Nagorny
Editors: Uvis Leskavnieks & Christian MacDonald
Costume Designer / Concept Artist: Lydia Hann
Casting Director / Location Manager: Anka Tyminska
1st Assistant Director: Liam Callander
Production Designers: Alia Ghafar & Rebecca Paxton
1st Assistant Camera: Nelisa Alcalde
2nd Assistant Camera / Data Wrangler: Laura Shand
Sound Recordist / Stills Photographer: Rob O’Donnell
Gaffer: Anna Maloney
Make-up / SFX Make-up Artist: Hope Locker
Script Supervisor / Stills Photographer: Dariusz Sipowski
Animal Wrangler / Animal Safety Coordinator: Bozena Bienkowska
Production Assistant: Martin Allison
Colorist: Christian MacDonald
Sound Designers: Christian MacDonald & Chris Gayne
*Official Selection, Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) (2012)
*National Distribution, CBC Television (2012)
*Development Grant, Screen Nova Scotia (2012)
A schizophrenic young man struggles to separate terrifying hallucination from reality in an attempt to gain control over his illness.
WHEN YOU'RE GONE // Short Film
After winning a Screen Nova Scotia Development Grant, I self-produced this short fiction film in Halifax and Dartmouth, Canada. My goal as director and producer was to get the maximum production value on screen, so great emphasis was put on production design, set construction and practical SFX.
I worked on the project every step of the way, starting with the initial concept pitch up to final post-production sound design and visual effects. After premiering at the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF), Atlantic Canada's most important and longest running film festival, the film was picked up for screening on Canadian national broadcast television (CBC Television).
Writer / Director: Christian MacDonald
Starring: Ciarán MacGillivray, Leslie Appleton & Nichola Grant
Executive Producer: Christian MacDonald
Director of Photography: Justin Tomchuk
Production Designers: Athari Jebran & Christian MacDonald
Editor / Colorist: Christian MacDonald
Costume Designer: Rachel Anstey
1st Assistant Director / Casting Director: Karolina Szablewska
Production Manager / Location Manager: Kirsten Stanley
Gaffer: Justin Tomchuk
Best Boy Electric / Dolly Grip: Mark Corless
1st Assistant Camera: Stéphane Sinclair-Fortin
Sound Recordist / Mixer: Chris Rodd
Art Director / Set Decorator & Dresser: Caleigh Childs
Property Master / Half-Scale Miniatures / Technical Advisor: Mark Dunphy
Piano Miniature: Christian MacDonald
Data Management Technician: Matthew Frazier
Make-up Artists / Stylists: Charlotte Gavaris & Amanda Wood
Grips: Matt Frazier, Mark Corless, Halley Davies, Jacob Simpson, Bill MacFarlane
Production Assistant: Halley Davies
VFX Supervisor / Editor: Justin Tomchuk
Sound Designers: Justin Tomchuk & Christian MacDonald
CHRISTIAN MACDONALD // Director & Editor
Christian MacDonald is a BAFTA New Talent nominated Canadian screenwriter, director and editor who brings over a decade of industry experience to the table. Having lived and worked in Europe for over ten years, he has cultivated a unique perspective that informs and enriches his storytelling.
Christian holds an MFA in Film Directing from the prestigious Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh and a BFA in Film from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, where he honed his craft under the mentorship of seasoned industry professionals such as producer Jan Harlan (A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut); actor Gary Lewis (Gangs of New York, Billy Elliot, The Marvels); screenwriter/director/producer Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys); and producer Bill Bannerman (The Twilight Saga).
His portfolio boasts a diverse range of works including films and music videos that have garnered critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. Notably, his projects have been featured on CBC national broadcast television in Canada, allowing him to transition into writing for television. His most recent series project, "Budget Airline," was selected as one of three European projects for the Smash Cut development program.
Christian's strengths lie in his Transatlantic filmmaking experience, bridging the gap between North American and European cultural spaces and audiences. He has received film development grants from both Canadian cultural bodies and European film development institutions.
He is an active industry member who continues his professional development in film and television. He frequently participates in important regional and international industry events such as the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF), American Film Market (AFM), Series Mania, European Film Market (EFM), Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), The Location Guide Focus London and many others.